Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has disclosed the reason for seizing international passport of Modupe Odele popularly known as Moechievous on Twitter, a frontliner of #EndSARS protests.
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has disclosed the reason for seizing international passport of Modupe Odele, #EndSARS promoter
During the week, Modupe raised alarm over the seizure of her passport on November 2 after she was forced to cancel a birthday trip to the Maldives through Dubai.
Modupe claimed her passport was seized due to the role she played in the nationwide protests against police brutality, #EndSARS
However, Sunday James, NIS spokesperson refuted the report saying the seizure was part of a routine assignment and not a witch-hunt of #EndSARS protesters.
Mr. James noted the immigration was duty-bound to enforce entry or restriction of entry to persons of interest to any government agency.
He said, “When there is a directive from any agency of government not specific, we have to enforce either entry or restriction of entry by anybody who has been directed not to be allowed exit or entry and as a matter of fact, we cannot as a border management agency, allow anybody who has been restricted from leaving the country to go out and we cannot allow anybody who has been restricted from entry to enter.
“So, it is a routine assignment and it has nothing to do with End SARS. We are the lead agency for the security management of the border. It has to do with the restriction order which we are duty-bound to enforce.”
Modupe “Moechievous” Odele played a key role in the #EndSARS protests. She offered free legal services that led to the release of unlawfully arrested protesters.